Neil, I agree with all the previous comments. I found the dialogue very authentic and I really found myself walking in his shoes. You would like to think that these barriers had broken down in our world but not always. You have definitely done your bit to redress that through your story.
I have been caring for four pups and can relate to the role of street sweeper at the moment, athough our cutie pies are well and truly worth it.
xx Rowena

A biting social commentary on attitudes to people according to their roles and status. I very much liked this piece, Neil. Particularly because, only last week, I was having a grumble about the lack of appreciation of and respect for the people who do the least pleasant jobs in our society. We really need their willingness to do the work and we can’t do without them but, overall, people don’t appear to value them. Your story said it all!

Maybe I’m just being adverse here, but not sure if this fellow would have felt at ease if the doorman had let him in. Not sure what I’d think if ragged grubby sorts wandered through a hotel lobby wjere I was staying. Hopefully I’d be charitable.